A Great New Lunch Venue

If you follow me on Facebook you may have noticed a gorgeous salad and wrap I had at a new restaurant that's opening up in San Jose called Chef Mo's Cafe.

Some of you may recall I used to have my photo consultation meetings in her gorgeous victorian as well.

Now that it's open for lunch, my displays have changed, and are no longer samples of the different mediums I have for sale, but instead they will be gorgeous wall collages that are available for purchase.

The images in this collage were taken last July in Iowa. It was 104 degrees and humid that week, and absolutely miserable, which explains why you don't see anyone out walking.  I love all of the green hillsides and grasses, and was drawn to the railroad tracks.and rusty fence lines   These are the hillsides of my childhood and are what I think of when someone says Iowa, versus the endless flat stretches of corn most people experience from traveling I-80.  I am hoping the patrons of the restaurant will enjoy this glimpse of Northeast Iowa as well.

Of course, the hills of my adulthood are also displayed, this collage is of some of the gorgeous vineyards in Northern California.   The young grapes were captured in the Santa Cruz mountains, while the gorgeous fall colors were captured in Sonoma.  I even have a cluster or two featured from a Livermore vineyard.  I just love the colors and textures of the vines, and can't wait to see this on display!

The last collage I have created for the space consists of flowers from my garden.  (and a visiting ladybug too.)
I am looking forward to seeing these in their new home, and thought I would give you a sneak peak as well.  (These are all screen shots from my order.)

I hope you will find an excuse to stop by Chef Mo's for lunch, her food is amazing!

(The above is a massaged kale and mango salad with Indian spiced chicken salad, and ginger lemongrass tea.)

She's right next to Devine Grind Coffee shop on North Second and Devine. (Where I also have images displayed!)

I will be sure to let you know when my collages are up, but please don't let that stop you from stopping by! 

She's open Monday-Friday from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, and be sure to let her know Suzi sent you!

Did you get a bouquet today?

 I was growing up we always went out and picked some "May Flowers" today, and gave them to our Mom, neighbors, friends, etc.  

If time allowed, that usually meant tromping through the woods to find wildflowers!  I fondly remember picking pretty bouquets of trillium, columbine, blood-root (it stained your hands red when picked), Dutchman's breeches, violets, buttercups, wild geranium, and Sweet William.  Pretty weeds and grasses sometimes found their way into the arrangement as well.  If we were lucky we might find a Morel Mushroom or two! (Although they usually wait until Mother's Day to make their appearance.)
Today I combined some roses with a few flowers I found in my yard. (Lavender and iris.) I also combined a cute gift voucher as I'm partnering with a local florist to deliver a bouquet of roses (and pretty filler) on Mother's Day. It's a pretty sweet deal, if I do say so myself. Since I didn't have any flowers from the florist yet, I made up my own arrangement for now. The white iris are actually fragrant, and compliment the lavender quite well.   There are also a few pretty white day lilies in the mix too. I can't wait to see who'll be getting flowers and photos this Mother's Day! Yeah for May!

100 Fans!

I'm so excited to have 100 fans on Facebook, it is also close to my 8th month anniversary since launching my business last August 25th.  What a better way to celebrate than a giveaway to thank my fans and followers?
The main prize is a $100 Certificate from Suzi Worley Photography to be used towards prints.

Plus a bonus gift of either Two tickets to Filoli Gardens. (as pictured above)

OR a $25 Starbucks Gift-Card! I'm hosting the give-away here and on my Facebook page. ~ If you haven't followed this page be sure to do so. As I hope to have some milestone prizes for my blog this year as well! ~ Winners will be announced by Monday May 6, 2013. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Trying Something New

I've been taking a class online and the instructor mentioned using V-flats as backgrounds and she said you could always make your own out of insulation boards.

I decided this sounded like it would be a fun project to try for my Mother/Daughter session that weekend, so I did a bit of shopping.

I purchased some pretty paints including some pretty faux finish ones.

And then I choose some polystyrene boards.

I liked the concept of the 3/4" board, but found that with any bit of breeze it wanted to get away from us, and the 1" ones ended up being my favorites.

I had to remove the foil on one side, and will have to do another coat of paint on it, as some of the metal flecks were still visible after my first coat.

(Even with the all-in-one paint/primer combo.)

I painted right over the plastic and blue wording on the other side without any problem.

The black paint was some milk paint I found in our shed. I loved the deep coal black color it produced.

Here are the colors before I put the green faux finish on the tan board and used a stipple brush and metallic finish on the rose one. The other sides are now a lovely winter's day blue, tadpole green, and popcorn white. They even managed to dry before my session! ~ Stay tuned to see them in action. ~

A Visit from Zander

If you follow my Facebook business site you might recall Zander came to visit me earlier this year.

He's Wandering the World to help a group of very special people in Florida.
Although he visited San Francisco earlier on his way to China, he hadn't been to San Jose.

 I was so excited he could stop by for a visit!

He was a lovely guest, he even helped me make breakfast one morning!
(I think he liked the green eggs best.)

He helped pick lemons from our lemon tree. Since it was February this was one of the few places that had green grass and Zander made the most of the warm weather.  He took a break and played hide-and-seek in the flowers with his Teddy Bear. And then we drove "over the hill" to Santa Cruz, where Zander tried out his skills as a Life Guard. He made sure to take some time and enjoy the view of the pier and listen to the sea lions. I'm sure he would have loved to ride the Beach Boardwalk's wooden roller coaster too, but it doesn't start up until summer.  Perhaps some day he'll come back for another visit!

We were so busy Zander had to rest a bit on these wooden parking dividers before we continued up the coast. 

It was super windy and cold by this gorgeous brick Light House, but Zander really loved the green grass and flowers, and thought it was the perfect spot for a photo op. The time passed quickly and soon it was time for Zander to head to Southern California. His last stop?  Australia!  I have to admit I wanted to tag along in his suitcase for that trip!  I guess I'll just have to wait for the book to come out instead!

Looking Your Best for the Camera

Do you have a portrait session coming up and want to look your best? I thought I would spend today talking a bit about what to wear and include a "primer" on make-up as well.  You fill find your session will go much smoother when you take a bit of time to prepare and pamper yourself beforehand.

Let's first start with the non-make up portion, these rules go well for men and women, as well as children.  (Except instead of eye-drops, just make sure your child is well rested.)

1. Eyes: If your eyes look the least bit tired or red, consider using eye drops.  (But be sure its a brand you've used before!) Visine or Clear Eyes seem to work well for most.
2. Hands: Make sure your nails are clean, trim, and polished.  (Kids nails should be trim and clean too.)
• If you polish your nails, stay away from themed nails (polka dots, Zig-zags, etc.) if you're doing a professional session.  
• A neutral color, sports, or french manicure looks the best and won't detract from the focal point. (YOU!)
3. Hair: Have your hair styled and make sure if it needs color touch-up you have it done a few days before the session so it has time to settle. Healthy hair looks amazing in-camera!
• For shorter hair cuts make sure your hair is trimmed about a week before so if you have tan lines, they have a chance to soften.
4. Skin: Moisturize your hands, arms, neck, face, and legs before your session, dry skin will show up on camera, and elbows and knees are notoriously dry. (Stay away from oily moisturizers to prevent too much shine, and allow enough time for your skin to absorb the lotion prior to your session.)  
5. Clothes: Select an outfit that is comfortable and something that you know you look good in!  
• This includes starting with proper fitting undergarments too.  Nothing ruins a session more than a muffin-top or a bra that's too tight and you have to keep "readjusting" or squirming.  
• Get fitted if needed to ensure you are comfortable.
• If you need help on selecting an outfit let me know!  Or head on over to my Pinterest boards and get some ideas from one of my "What to Wear" and "My Style" boards to find some inspiration!

Now for the fun part... make-up.  This is one area that you need to do a tad differently so that the camera sees you in a "good light".  I've compiled a few tips here, but feel free to search online to find "how to's" for your facial shape and features.

1. Go pro!  Getting a professional make-up application not only helps you look your best, but they will know how to apply your make-up for the camera.  
• They are great at accentuating your features, and helping you look your best.  If you didn't select the make-up option with your package, don't worry, most make-up counters will be happy to help.  
• Communication is key!  Let them know that your getting ready for a natural-light photography session, and have them stay away from mineral based make up which often doesn't translate well in the camera.
• A pro is great at finding the right shade of color for your skin tone, as well as helping hide flaws and showcase your best features!
• They are also great if you don't wear make-up often and could use some help or coaching.
• Best of all, who doesn't like to be pampered?
2. Most make-up artists for fashion photography use MAC, however the MAC professional line can only be found in the actual MAC store, and not at the MAC counter of your local department store. 
• So don't be surprised if like me, you go in with a list of "photo grade" make-up requests only to learn the department store counter doesn't have them. 
• I still haven't made it to the official MAC store and have found their other products work quite well for natural light photography
3. If you don't have the time or the desire to "go pro" be sure to apply your make-up in natural light or the light similar to where your session will be.  
• This will ensure your coverage works for the location, vs looks good under the blue florescent lighting but not flattering in daylight. 
• Also the older you are, keep in mind that less make-up will actually be more flattering!
4. Be sure to moisturize and use a good primer.  MAC, Benefit, L'Oreal, and Smashbox all have great photo flattering options.  (Don't forget to moisturize your neck and elbows too!)

5. For lips, keep them natural but not nude, a bit of color really helps.   If you go bold be prepared to do touch-ups on site. (If you went to the department store counter, ask for a sample so you can reapply it during the session.)  
• Blended lip liner is your friend!  You can even use it instead of lipstick if you have a color you love!  
• A dab of gloss is fine too, and will make your lips look more full.

6. Be sure to use natural colors, and stick to matte or satin finishes, and stay away from mineral based products that can create too much of a glow and shine in-camera.
7. Find a blush that compliments your skin and blend it in so it looks natural.  (This is where a pro can come in handy!)
8. For eyes, remember to highlight the brow area and stick to matte colors.  Be sure to blend any harsh lines as they'll be picked up by the camera otherwise.
• Don't wear frosted or shiny shadows since they often crease.
• If possible stay away from dark brown and charcoal shadows as well.  
• For under eyes, don't go too light with the concealer, or it will shine through.  Lemon Aid by Benefit works wonders on dark circles!  (Just be sure to apply it before your foundation.)

9. Fill your brows with a pencil or powder that matches your hair color. Even if you don't normally, it will make for a more polished look.  (Also be sure to trim any stray hairs if needed.) A trip to the salon a day or two before is even better.  Please DON'T pluck or wax anything the day of your session to avoid redness.
10. Keep eye liner to a minimum (Brown or black) for a more natural look that emphasizes your eyes.
• A pro knows tricks in using liner to make your eyes look larger (or smaller) or more even, ask them to show you how!
11. Be sure to remember your mascara, if you're worried about clumping use a new brush, or fresh tube to ensure it's not dried out.  Waterproof is best so you don't have to worry about it running or smearing during your session.

12. Once you're done, be sure to "set" everything with a translucent powder.  If it's hot out, bring along some extra just in case.

It's really not as hard as it sounds, and a bit of pampering beforehand helps make your session even better.  So go ahead, schedule an hour or two of pampering before your session, either at a make up counter, or at a salon.  You'll not only arrive for your session looking great, but you will be more relaxed too, and the camera will love you for it!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

NOTE: This is not a review for products, and I was not paid to mention the brands/types listed, they just happen to be some of my current favorites.

California Chic

I participate in many online sites to ensure that my photography skills continue to grow.  There is nothing better than a creative group of peers to keep you motivated.  One of my favorite sites is Chic Critique Forum.  They even have a wonderful magazine aptly named CHIC.  When they announced they needed an image for their cover, and that they like to showcase images with a fashion editorial feel (i.e. Vogue, Elle, W)  I thought of the image below right away. 

This fantastic session was with a fab NYU student who happened to be in California for spring break.  I loved it that she wasn't afraid to try something different, and so we created this great gown out of tulle and window screen and "hit the town".  It was a tad chilly in San Jose that day, but thankfully this resilient gal was used to New York weather and we had an amazing time.

Be sure to visit Chic Magazine to see the other entries in the contest as well. There are quite a few talented photographers that have already submitted, and since the contest is open until the end of Feb, I'm sure there will be quite a few more!